Released in 2009, Zombieland was directed by Ruben Fleischer and written by the duo of Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. The film begins by following a nebbish college student as he attempts to survive a zombie apocalypse.
Along the way, he meets three strangers and the foursome soon embarks on a road trip in hopes of finding a safe haven that’s free of zombies. The film was a critical and commercial hit, featuring lead performances from Woody Harrelson and Abigail Breslin, in addition to Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone before the two became household names.
However, a cameo from a legendary actor is frequently cited as one of the comedy’s most memorable scenes. And i think you all what i mean right?
Originally for Patrick Swayze
In a movie which featured a bunch of memorable performance and hilarious details, Murray’s brief appearance stood out all the same.
It tapped into a question that many people find themselves asking when they’re watching an apocalyptic film of any stripe, wondering how the disaster might have harmed the most fortunate people in society.
But as Wernick shared on social a couple months ago that, the script he co-wrote originally had Patrick Swayze in mind rather than Murray. It was a difficult time for Swayze though, as he’d been battling Swayze pancreatic cancer and was too sick to arrive on set. The actor passed away just weeks before Zombieland premiered.
Other Big Names Also Considered
Other names were considered for the celebrity cameo as well, including Dustin Hoffman, Dwayne Johnson, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Joe Pesci, Kevin Bacon, Mark Hamill, Matthew McConaughey, and Sylvester Stallone.
With each written cameo tailored specifically to the performer, the scene could have gone in several different directions. At the time of Zombieland’s premiere, for example, Johnson was still best known for his run in WWE as The Rock. Perhaps his cameo would have been filled with wrestling references.
The casting choice ultimately worked out quite well in the end. Murray even returned for the sequel, which was released in 2019, continuing the joke of his disdain for Garfield. Still, it would have been interesting to see what Swayze and the others could have brought to Zombieland.
All & all, i think it all end up worked greatly right?